Electric signal and switch therefor



Sept. 27, 1932 A. HOROCHOWSKY 1,879,252

ELECTRIC SIGNAL AND SWITCH THEREFOR Filed Oct. 16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l //v new roe 9. H080 C/IOh/Sk Y p 1932. A. HOROCHOWSKY 1,879,252v

ELECTRIC SIGNAL AND swn'cn THEREFOR Filed Oct. 16, 19 31 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTHONY HOROCHOWSKY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES LEFCHICK, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY ELECTRIC SIGNAL AND SWITCH THEREFOR Application filed October 16, 1931. Serial No. 569,142.

The present invention relates to electric signals adapted for use at railroad crossings and has for its object the rovision of a switch for intermittently closing the elecfi tric circuit and which switch may operate on vibration of the rail brought about by the approaching train.

further object of the present invent on is the provision of a switch which may have application in electric signals, and station announcement signals and which also may be used in connection with the present existing signals.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a switch in the form of a relay tube, wherein a mobile element is located and which mobile element may move on agitation of said relay tube for bridging electric wire terminals for closing an electric 2 circuit for operating the signal.

A further object of the present invention is to improve the construction of a similar signal and a switch operable therewith, which was shown described and claimed in my Patent No. 12753568. In said patent I have shown a pair of semi-spherical metallic sections which are adapted to hold a mobile element which when agitated contacts with both sections for closing the electric circuit.

39 In the present invention I contemplate the use of a relay tube made of glass or other electricity nonconducting material, and by virtue of which arrangement I contemplate entirely avoiding any possible galvanization,

oxidation or ionization by creating a vacuum in the relay tube and wherein the terminals may be positioned, and I further contemplate using terminals made of tungsten which is inert and most suitable for a switch of the nature contemplated by my invention.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a switch of the character indicated which may be used in burglar alarm signals which may be employed in automobiles.

With the above general objects in View and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the mounting plate with the remaining portions of the device, shown by dotted lines, suspended below said plate;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View, on Vertical plane, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. I;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the relay tube;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the tube on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the relay tube on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the relay tube taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3; t

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a retaining socket wall for the relay tube;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of said socketwall;

Fig'. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the socket-wall, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View of the electric circuit.

Referring in detail to the present drawings, the present invention includes a substantially square mounting plate 10, provided, adjacent each of its corners, with s uare opening 11 for the purpose of receiving t erewithin an L-shaped retaining lug 12'. Each of said lugs 12 is square in cross-section as is its leg or clamping portion, so that it may freely move within the opening 11. The lower end of each of said retaining lugs 12 is round and threaded as at 13 for the purpose of receiving thereupon nut 14 and locknut 15. Said lock-nut 15 may also be provided with a plurality of transverse and radially arranged openings 16 for receiving within only one of them a cotter pin 17, when nut 14 and lock-nut 15 are in position.

The upper of leg portions of said lugs 12 are adapted to clamp and engage the outer edges of rail flange 18.

Integrally formed with and downwardly depending from the lower face of mounting plate 10 is an annular wall 19, which is provided with a pair of threaded openings 20 and which are located at a distance of 90 degrees from each other. Thus, one of said openings 20 will have a transverse relation with respect to the rail, while the other of said openings 20 may be disposed longitudinally of the rail, as clearly seen on Figs. 1 and 2.

Said annular wall 19 adjacent each of said openings 20 has an annular bulge 21, for the purpose of strengthening the annular wall 19 adjacent said openings 20.

Said wall 19 adjacent its lower open end is provided with an integrally formed flange or shoulder 22, for the purpose which will be hereinafter described.

Receivable at the lower face of mounting plate 10 and centrally thereof is round plate 23 which is attached to mounting plate 10 by means of a plurality of screws 24. Centrally said plate 23 is provided with downwardly depending incised leaves 25 arranged in round formation and whose lower ends are concentrically bent to form a socket for receiving therewithin ball 26. Integrally formed with said ball 26 and downwardly depending therefrom is rod 27 whose lower end is threaded for receiving thereupon in threaded engagement stud 28 which extends upwardly from round plate 29. Lock-nut 30 upon rod 27 prevents rotation of stud 28 and consequent disengagement thereof when the same is in an operative position upon said rod 27.

The invention further includes a vacuum relay tube including the bulb portion 31 thereof and cylindrical stud portion 32, which is preferably made of glass. The upper end of said cylindrical stud portion 32 of the relay tube is outwardly flared as at 33, in order to be firmly retained within cement wall 34;, which cement wall 34 is encompassed by annular metallic color 35. Said cement wall 34 reaches downwardly to the point of said cylindrical stud portion 32 of the relay tube from which the bulb portion 31 thereof extends, likewise the encompassing collar 35 reaches substantially to the same point, as seen on Fig. 3. The upper end of said cement wall 34 forms a juncture with plug 36 which likewise is made of the same material as cement wall 34, or other suitable material which does not conduct electricity.

Vacuum Within the relay tube may be created when the relay tube is completed, and this may be accomplished by any suitable known means.

Integrally formed with said plug 36 and downwardly projecting therefrom and within the relay tube is stud 38. Passing through opening 39 made within stud 38 and plug 36 are a pair of terminal wires and 11 which are preferably made of tungsten, which metal is inert and not sub'ect to easy physical or chemical changes when under influence of electricity. Portions of said terminal wires 40 and 41 passing through the lower terminations of stud 38 are sealed therein as at 42 so that there may be no atmospheric communication to the inside of the relay tube.

Positioned at the bottom of the bulb portion 31 of the relay tube is an amount of mercury 43 or other suitable electricity conducting agent. he end of terminal 40 is immersed in mercury 43 while the lower end of terminal 41, arranged into a circle as at 44 and as seen on Fig. 5, is suspended immediately above the surface of mercury 43, the same being spaced from the mercury so that no contact therebctween may be had while the relay tube is in a normal suspended position but that an immediate contact therebetween may be had when the relay tube is angularly shifted in any direction.

The upper ends of terminal wires 40 and 41 carry insulating sleeves 45 and 46, the lower ends of which are cemented within plug 36, as clearly seen on Figs. 2 and 3. Said upper ends of terminal wires 40 and 41 including their insulating sleeves 45 and 46 are adapted to extend through insulating bushings 47 positioned within plate 29 and adjacent stud 28, as clearly seen on Fig. 1. The upper terminations of said terminal wires 40 and 41 are connected to pliable insulated copper wires 48 and 49, at points indicated by 50. Integrally formed with plate 29 and downwardly depending therefrom, is a cylindrical annular socket wall 51 provided with a plurality of vertical incisions 52 which effect a plurality of resilient leaves 53. The lower ends of each of said leaves 53 is provided with inwardly extending ribbed ridge 54, they being made on the same plane in all of said leaves 53, for the purpose of engaging annular collar 35 at its groove 55 made adjacent the lower end of said collar 35. By virtue of this arrangement relay tube is removable from within stocket wall 51 for the purpose of renewing the same in the event one becomes inoperative for any reason.

Due to the brittle nature of tungsten the upper portions of tungsten wires 40 and 41, those remaining within openings 39 and extending above plug 26, may be enclosed within copper tubing which will form a protective cover for the tungsten wires to which copper wires 38 and 49 may directly be connected at points 50.

The rela tube as well as socket wall 51 is enclosed within receptacle 56, the upper end of which is open and is adapted to receive and engage the periphery of plate 29 and to which the same is attachable by means of screws 57 Said receptacle 56 guards bulb 31 from any accidental breaking. Said plate 29 is provided with a number of openings 58 for the purpose of receiving screws 57. Plate 29 is likewise provided with a pair of openings 59 for accommodating therewithin insulated bushings 47. For enclosing the switch mechanism including all the parts suspended upon rod 27, housing 60 is provided, the upper end of which is adapted to receive the lower portion of annular wall 19. Shoulder 22 overhangs the upper end of housing 60 for the purpose of providing means limiting further upward movement of said housing 60 upon wall 19 and at the same time for providing a closefit between said annular wall 19 and housing 60 for preventing water or dust entering said housing 60. Said housing 60 is attached to annular wall 19 by means of screws 61 which are adapted to fit by their inner ends within seats 62 made inv said annular wall 19. Lock-nuts 63 provide means for preventing easy disengagement of said screws 61 from their engagement with annular wall 19. At points at which said screws 61 are passed through the wall of said housing 60, the latter is provided with integrally formed bulges 64 which strengthen the wall of housing 60 at those points. Wires 48 and 49 are passed through an insulated tube 65 receivable within tube 66, the latter being provided at one of its ends with threads 67 for rigid engagement of said tube 66 within opening 20. While only one of said openings 20 is used at a time, the other opening, not used, may be plugged by means of plug 68. Two openings 20 are provided for convenience, but only one may at a time be used for the purpose intended.

Referring to the diagrammatic view illustrated on Fig. 10, the switching device enclosed within housing 60 is generally indicated on Fig. 10 by 69. Wire 48 is indicated there as connecting with battery 70, while wire 49 passing through si nal lamp 71 and alarm bell 72 likewise leads to battery for completing the circuit.

Referring to the operation of the device, on approach of the train over the rail, the latter vibrates, and the vibration thereof is transmitted to the switch, by virtue of which fact the switching device including the relay tube is adapted to angularly shift or move upon the ball and socket connection 25-26. This will cause the agitation or change of position of mercury 43 within bulb 31, which will cause the contact of mercury with terminal 41 at any point of its circular portion 44, in consequence of which fact there will be bridging of the circuit for causing lamp 71 to light and bell 7 2 to ring. .Due to the intermittent angular shifting of relay tube there will be caused an intermittent signaling at lamp 71 and bell 72.

I do not desire to limit myself to the use of the device for railroads alone, as obviously a device of this nature may be readily adapted for use in connection with automobile burglar alarms or the like. The switch or relay tube disclosed herein may find ready application in great many electrical devices.

While there is described herein a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A relay tube comprising a cylindrical stud portion, a bulb portion extending from one of the ends of said cylindrical stud portion, the other end of said cylindrical stud portion being open, circuit closing elements within said bulb portion, a plug at the open end of said cylindrical stud portion, and a retaining wall around the outer periphery of said cylindrical stud portion, said retaining wall forming a juncture with said plug.

2. A relay tube comprising a bulb portion, a stud portion integrally formed with said bulb portion, a mobile element within said bulb portion and a pair of terminals extending within said bulb portion through said stud portion, one of said terminals being in constant contact with said mobile element, while the other of said terminals is spaced away from said mobile element, said mobile element being adapted to contact with said last named terminal for bridging the two terminals on change of position of the relay tube.

3. In combination with an electric signal, including a mounting member, a. relay tube comprising a cylindrical stud portion, a bulb portion extending from the lower end of said cylindrical stud Portion, the other end of said cylindrical stud portion being aflixed to said mounting member for oscillatory movement, and circuit closing elements within said bulb portion, said circuit closing elements being adapted to intermittently operate upon the oscillation of said relay tube.

4. In a railroad electric signal, a mounting member attachable to the rail, a relay tube including a cylindrical stud portion, and a bulb portion extending from one end of said cylindrical stud portion, the other end of said cylindrical stud portion being afiixed to said mounting member for oscillatory movement on vibration of the rail and circuit closing elements within said bulb portion, said circuit closing elements being adapted to intermittently close the electric circuit on OS- cillation of said relay tube.

5. In a railroad electrical signal, a mounting member attached to the rail a relay tube suspended upon said mounting member for oscillatory movement, said relay tube including a cylindrical stud portion and a bulb portion extending from the lower end thereof, and circuit closing elements Within said bulb portion, said circuit closing elements being adapted to intermittently close the electric circuit upon oscillation of the relay tube.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANTHONY HOROOHOWSKY. 

